Big Ten Player of the Year Caleb Swanigan leaving for NBA Draft, but Vincent Edwards returning to Purdue

Vinnie Duber

6 months ago

The Big Ten Player of the Year is heading to the NBA.

Purdue announced Wednesday that big man Caleb Swanigan will keep his name in the upcoming NBA Draft, forgoing the rest of his NCAA eligibility.

Matt Painter and the Boilermakers will keep the services of Vincent Edwards, the senior-to-be opting to return to West Lafayette for his senior season.

Both players took advantage of rules allowing underclassmen to test the NBA Draft process, gather information from NBA teams and decide whether to return to college with their NCAA eligibility intact.

"These were very difficult decisions for both Vince and Caleb to make, and we are happy for both of them," Painter said in the school's announcement. "Vince has the potential to be one of the best players in the Big Ten. He is one of the most versatile players in the country and will use what he learned from this process to improve in all phases of his game.

"We are also happy that Caleb will be able to achieve his goal of getting drafted by an NBA franchise. He has set forth on this path for a long time, and we are thrilled that he will be able to realize his dream. We wish him the best of luck as he moves forward in the process."

Swanigan was one of the best college players in the country last season, averaging 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds a game. He registered a whopping 28 double-doubles on the season, helping lead the Boilers to the Sweet Sixteen.

Swanigan, who spent two seasons in West Lafayette, is being projected as a second-round pick. Draft Express' most recent mock draft has Swanigan as one of the first 10 picks in the second round.

Edwards averaged 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists a game as a junior last season. He cranked it up at the end of the year after a slowish stretch in the middle of the campaign, scoring 21 or more points in three of the Boilers' final five games.

Losing Swanigan will obviously have a massive effect on Purdue's chances to win the Big Ten title next season, and his departure figures to dramatically alter the Big Ten landscape in general. The Boilers will likely remain a contender, but Swanigan's exit, albeit an expected one, could clear the way for Michigan State as the standalone preseason favorite for the league crown.